Last Monarch for 2010

Rhino

By Rhino
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Rhino Monster Buck

Rhino

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After my 2nd bird I spent a couple of days helping my main turkey hunting buddy find the right one. He scored on his 1st 2010 gobbler from one of those birds. I get a weak assit for a text to him along with a pat on the back as he took off toward the bird. He's killed his 2nd bird since then too.

My next time hunting after my April 1st triple beard was on April 9th. The hens are starting to go to nest now. To make a long story short I spent 4 days in the field being humbled by an old devil bird recently, not to mention the other 2 days he teased me into pursuing him prior to killing my 2nd bird. Can't say his name here. It's the same bird I mentioned in my triple beard thread that had 6 hens fly down to him after his 1st ground level gobble. This bird knows the hens are supposed to come to him and he only plays by those rules. If she won't come, he moves on looking for another. He would come to somewhere from the 100 yard line to the 150 yard line and gobble his head off but no closer. He'd have a short pause while he's moving out and commence gobbling going away in search of receptive hens that play by his rules. No pattern to what he does either. Also other birds in his domain usually quit gobbling after touchdown fearing another pecking order education. A true devil with feathers. I made the mistake of becoming obsessed with killing him...until this morning.

I told my main turkey hunting buddy last night...if he gives me the slip early again I'm heading to new country to try to find a cooperative bird rather than waste more hunting time trying to out flank him over and over again. This morning for whatever reason he was silent. I covered his domain trying to locate him gobbling in my electric cart and threw in the towel looking for him at 7:15. Time to head to new territory.

As I arrived at my 1st place to listen, I hear a distant bird tearing up the woods with his gobbles. This bird is really hot and obviously having a problem finding a hen. I make my way in to determine his position in order to figure out the best place to attempt to work him in. I don't like calling at a bird until I'm set up where I think I can work one into range. After burning a little boot leather I move in to my 1st setup position. He's still gobbling a lot on his own. First calls out with my slate (light yelp) and diaphram (a cut) are cut off with gobbles by him. From then on it was clucks and purrs with more positive responses from him. Only problem is...he hasn't moved. I'm thinking...I sure hope I'm not on another devil bird. With plenty of gobbling going on I move in a little closer but still very much hidden while moving. I closed the distance about 50 yards and set up again. This time I throw in a lot of leaf scratching with my purring. He really goes nuts gobbling now. I guess he thought all that leaf scratching meant those hens were more interested in feeding. He couldn't stand it...here he comes gobbling his way in. Finally I see him 20 yards slightly to the right of the end of my shotgun barrel. A little adjustment in aim and my 3rd Nitro load for the season is delivered. 3rd bird down! No telling how many times he gobbled. It was a wild 30 or so minutes after I set up not to mention how many times he gobbled before I sat down the 1st time. My last bird for this spring season carried a 10 3/8" beard and 1" spurs. Not the big bad devil bird but sure was a trophy hunt filled with gobbling action.

My_3rd_2010_Gobbler_RT.JPG

My_3rd_2010_Gobbler_with_me_RT.JPG

Next hunts planned will be me playing guide to some rookies. Those hunts begin Friday morning. I don't think I'm going to let them experience the frustration of pursuing that devil bird either. ;)

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Rhino Monster Buck

Rhino

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I don't know about breaking in the rookies on the devil bird 1st day out. 2nd day...different story. He's also a good fall back bird to go find if I don't get them on a gobbling bird early. He's having trouble finding receptive hens now so he's been gobbling on up into the late morning while cruising around his domain. Whatever happens it should be fun...especially since my hunting gear load will be about 8.5 pounds ligher including ammo...well lack of it. :D

how does that benelli hold groups? nice looking bird

Super groups with my setup...being a 660 Rhino choke shooting 4x5x7 hevishot Nitro loads.

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Rhino Monster Buck

Rhino

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One question though...out of the three birds/stories, I did not read one mention of the ole gobble shaker. Did I miss something, or did you finally sling the reed out of that thing!

No, I slung it around trying to coax that devil bird in. He answered it and worked in but still hung up around the 100 yard line. I literally used every call I had trying to work that old bird into range including 2 different gobble calls. I honestly was obsessed with trying to kill him on at least 6 different days. He won this year. Hope he has it in him to live one more year.

I just didn't happend to need to use it on the other 3 birds. First time in quit a few years I didn't have what I felt were the right circumstances where I needed to use it on a bird that ended up slung over my shoulder.

Here's a cut out of one of the trail camera pictures I got of the devil bird on April 8th when he had a 2 year olf bird close enough for comparison purposes. He's only shown up there twice since then, both times during late afternoon hours. I pulled my trail camera Saturday.

The_devil_bird.JPG

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